The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-03-19
SHERMAN, ON THE "IRIsH srRuaGLE.

ROBERT NJ. MCW AIDE. ESQ, Phil1.
Ny DEAR SIR: have 70 acknowledge,
with thanks, the receipt from you of a
copy of the joint work of Mr., o Connor
and yourself on 1.-The Great Irish Struggle"
which will carry home with me and read
carefully at 10y leisure. As yet l .hsye
only glanced over it sufficiently to learn
that il contains a mass of information
deeply interesting to every American.
The preface by DR.. Burns expresses in a
few sentences the view taken by intelligent
Americans of the movement for Home Rule
In Ireland. There is profound and gem
eral sympathy among my countrymen in
favor of this movement, and the universal
hope is, that by peaceful and earnest efforts
the British Parliament will be induced to
grant to the people Of Ireland the inestim-
able benefit of Home Rule in local affairs
This is not confined to Irishmen in
America, or to the descendants of Irshmen,
but is fully shared by the descendants Of
Englishmen, and especially by those whose
ancestors for more than two centuries
this feeling arise from any desire to weaken
or cripple the power of the British Empire
While this power has been often exercised
without due regard to the rights of other
nations. yet we know that the general
results Of this domination, to which the
Irish people have contributed their full
part, have been the most potent agency in
advancing the civilization and progress of
mankind.
AS Americans We share in the glory Of
British achievements and power, and be.
lieve that with Home Rule Ireland will
not only cease to be disconnected, bat will
be able TO contribute still greater share
TO the boasted power Of the British Empire.
Nor does our sympathy arise from any
affinitles on'account of religious creeds OF
tests. A greater proportion Of the Amcri-
can people are Pro!estants, compared with
Catholics, than are the Protes,ants OF
Great Britain, compared with Catholics; ;
but We have long since learned that freedom
of religious worship is the sacred right of
every citizen too sacred TO be controlled
by the laws of the State or nation.
Our sympathy is founded upon tho cx-
perience of a hundred years, that a great
population cannot be held in peaceful and
happy relation by central authority alone.
but that each community must have local
autonomy, with power to pass local laws
snited 10 its wants, its habits, and even ii,
prejudices, leaving to central, or national
authority the great powers essential to
empire.
We carry our divisions of local autonomy
to school districts, to townships, TO cities
and counties, each with clearly defined but
limited authority, but ropfer upon States
ard the nation broader power and juris-
diction. is only by such a division of
power that freedom, in its true sense, can
be enjoyed by any populous and extended
country. Great Britain has recognized this
great principle of human government i'm
every step OF its wonderful progress towards
free institutions, from the days of Magma
Charta, the birth of its national freedom,
to its present liberal government fourded
upon general suffrage. She has extended
the principle Of Home Rule to the Dominion
Of Canada and Australia, and ages ago she
gave local autonomy with liberal franchises
to her cities aud counties, and even to
guilds Of tradesmen aud mechanics.
it is this autonomy, or local rule with
powers suitable to the conditions and wants
OF Ireland, that the people of that island
want, aud such powers ale not only con-
sisIent With, but will advance the glory
snd power Of the Empire. 1t was earnestly
hoped by all classes in America that when
. great aud h0nOred statesman like Glad